The Best Restaurants In Wheeling, West Virginia

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If you’re in the mood for comforting, traditional pub food, look no further than Generations Pub & Restaurant. Generations takes its name from its own history — it has spanned four different generations of the Duplaga family in Wheeling, and it was once known as the Swing Club before changing its name to honor its past. Enjoy a plate of pierogies or a juicy burger paired with one of the many beer selections, and if you can, grab a seat on the shaded deck that overlooks Wheeling Creek for a great view with your hearty meal.

Looking to keep it simple for lunch or dinner? Pop into Later Alligator, where you can grab soup, a salad, or a sandwich that’s delicious without being fussy. The real draw on the menu here, however, is the huge list of crêpes, which range from sweet (try the Strawberry Moon with strawberries, brown sugar, and sour cream topped with whipped cream) to savory (order the Alligator Rock with ricotta, pine nuts, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and avocado with basil pesto) and are sure to hit the spot no matter what you’re craving. Pair your food with a spiked coffee if the mood strikes, and enjoy the quaint atmosphere with its brick walls and artistic decor.

Avenue Eats‘s mission is simple: to ‘satisfy taste buds by serving freshly made food using exceptional quality ingredients.’ Stop by and peruse the varied, classic American menu, which features grilled lamb chops, a ‘gourmet’ sloppy joe, black bean sliders, and a pub burger that was recognized on Thrillist’s 33 Best Burgers list, despite the fact that Avenue Eats is known for being a haven for vegetarians. Avenue Eats is especially known for its friendly and accommodating staff, who will go out of their way to make sure you have the best possible experience while dining with them. This place is small and intimate, and is the perfect spot for a first date or lunch with an old friend.

Ye Olde Alpha refers to itself as a ‘landmark restaurant’ of Wheeling, as it has been a staple of the city’s dining scene for years, and it prides itself on ‘dead animals, cold beer, and classic American food served in a casual family setting.’ The menu is quite large and features everything from a kids’ menu to burgers to fajitas, but be sure to try the wings while you’re there. Ye Olde Alpha also serves breakfast, so you can stop by seven days a week at any time of the day to get an excellent meal. As for drinks, there’s a huge selection of domestic bottled beer, alongside three permanent taps and one seasonal. Stop in and relax for a fuss-free meal at Ye Olde Alpha.

Pickles’ Grog & Grill is the quintessential neighborhood bar, with great grub and a welcoming atmosphere. Stop in for the super-sized happy hour, which runs Monday to Friday from 11am-7pm and offers bottled beers for 50 cents off the normal price, or go on Wing Nights (Thursdays) for 60 cent wings, $12 buckets, and good prices on domestic bottles, with a ton of wing sauces to choose from. Alternatively, grab an order of fried pickles with the family and kick back and relax with a cold one.

Coleman’s Fish Market is a casual establishment in Wheeling known for one item in particular — its giant fish sandwich. Lines outside get quite long, so prepare yourself for a wait while you stand in the line designated for fish sandwiches (though if you’re looking for a different dish, you can head to the shorter ‘special’ line). Keep in mind that the fish is served battered and with no sauce on two slices of white bread, so if you want an extra like tartar sauce, you’ll have to pay a little more. If you’re looking for the best fish sandwich around, you’ll certainly find it here.

Figaretti’s has served fine Italian cuisine to the people of Wheeling since 1948, when the five sons of Italian-born Figaretti Senior started the restaurant and prepared dishes using their mother’s homemade tomato sauce. The restaurant is still owned by Dino Figaretti, who is three generations removed from his ancestor. Try the homemade pasta and pair it with a glass of robust Italian wine to round off your meal, and you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported straight to the rolling green hills of Tuscany or to a trattoria in Rome. It’s a small spot, so make a reservation or be prepared to wait a little bit for a table.

The Vagabond Kitchen specializes in classic, upscale American cuisine with international influences that range from Greek to Japanese. Everything at Vagabond is made from scratch and in-house, from the hummus platter to the house tzatziki on the shrimp po’boy to the wasabi aioli on the seared, sushi-grade ahi tuna. Vagabond also serves local ‘beefalo,’ raised at Brookside Farm in West Virginia for Vagabond and described as a hybrid between a beef cow and a buffalo; be sure to grab a beefalo burger and see if it ranks among the best burgers you’ve ever tried.

Golden Chopsticks serves upscale, traditional Chinese food, and has done so for over 20 years — in fact, the Wheeling News Register has voted it the number one Chinese restaurant in the area for the past ten years. Choose a seat in one of the many rooms (Golden Chopsticks offers two roomy dining levels, a bar area, and even a state-approved gaming room) and order high-end options such as Hong Kong squid, ginger lobster tail, or Thai chili chicken. If you’re not feeling particularly adventurous, stick with Chinese food favorites like orange chicken, pan-fried noodles, or sesame beef. If you’re having a large party, consider renting out one of Golden Chopsticks’s dining rooms, as they can accommodate up to 100 people.